Sandra Vi going for record across America

I'm not vouching for her. I'm an appellate attorney (I represent abused kids for Florida's Guardian ad Litem Program), and all I am saying is you guys don't have any proof she has been cheating. Totally different than vouching for her. Just pointing out there really no evidence she's actually cheated. Just alleged shady activity.

It's not like I am going to defend someone who is cheating . . . my girl is on the other side, and I DEFINITELY want her to win. But -- at this point -- there really isn't any smoking gun with Mimi's run.

Dave Krupski wrote:

Personally, I think both Sandy and Mimi are well-qualified to obliterate the current transcon record (which, for women, is pretty soft, in all honesty).

Of course my personal feelings are irrelevant. I don't know Mimi . . . I only met her once. But I don't have any real reason to believe she's cheating, and that is a REALLY serious accusation to make against someone. If you do make it, you damn-well should have actual evidence, and -- call me old-fashioned -- use your real name when making the accusation.

Most of us aren't accusing her of cheating. We're asking for evidence she is doing all that is being claimed. If the problem was limited only to the tracking issue we would all be better off. It's not. In addition to the tracker issue (which, not to minimize it, is extremely significant) there are also the following facts:

- Claiming someone came from this website to stalk her and was subsequently arrested. There has been no evidence of this.

- No video whatsoever of her running (but we have seen her need physical assistance to enter her RV, after which she somehow added another 25 miles on the day).

- Not a single account from anyone outside of her team who has been able to meet up with her. Nothing on social media. No Tweets, no FaceBook posts, nothing.

- At least one known association with a running fraud / financial schemer Ben Rogers. There may also be a connection to Amy Hughes, another stunt runner who has been exposed and is likely practicing charity fraud.

I'm sure in the right circumstances Mimi is a lovely lady. Respectfully though, that is irrelevant to the setting of the record. If someone wants to have the accomplishment recognized by the masses, then the burden of proof is on him or her. The questionable statements from her team (regarding the arrest, trackers, no wireless signal, and so on) muddy the situation even more. I understand your focus is on Sandy, as it should be, but there are legitimate concerns with Mimi's attempt. It's not personal. We just want transparency and with that, the truth.

Dave Krupski wrote:

I get you don't HAVE to use your real name, but opinions carry more weight when attributed to a real person (just my opinion, but maybe I'm just getting old and cranky).

My only point is that being "dodgy" doesn't equate to "she must be cheating." I'm not a Mimi apologist . . . I met her once. But until there is evidence she is actually cheating, I'm going to give her the benefit of the doubt. As an appellate attorney who represents abused kids for a living, that's the way our system works . . . people are not presumed guilty.

100 percent agree but I think you will find there are plenty of people on this thread who are just trying to figure out what the hell is going on in Mimi's camp

From tracker screw ups/ constant excuse making about Strava "not being able to upload, to this farcical "arrest" which never was. IMO in a court of law people are innocent til proven guilty but in sport (especially this kind of stunt running w/ a disproportionate amount of bluffing / scamming) the burden of proof is on the athlete themselves

FTR I still haven't clue what's going on here but her team could certainly head off criticism and be more transparent. Until that happens, the questions will continue

ok

Nothing like adding two and two and getting six.

Half truth and twisted words abound in here. You're just taking the little you know and twisting it to suit your own agenda.

That's on you. The Strava data is there day after day but you're all ignoring that little fact aren't with a 'yeah but it can be spoofed'.

Time and time again SW has been asked to show how. Two genuine tracks and two fake ones to compare. But still nothing.

Mimi's team need to provide you with nothing. Not a word, not a photo. Why would they? Their proof will go to the GWR not a bunch of basement dwellers who'll just dismiss it as fakenews anyway

St Marker wrote:

in a court of law people are innocent til proven guilty but in sport (especially this kind of stunt running w/ a disproportionate amount of bluffing / scamming) the burden of proof is on the athlete themselves

Spot on.

Dave, as you are well aware in a court of law having been charged with an offence, Mimi would be innocent until proved guilty.

In a civil court it would be balance of probability.

However using this as an argument to defend her sketchy world record attempt doesn't follow.

Here, the burden of proof is on the runner themselves to give US evidence they are doing it legit. With Mimi's run, this evidence is dodgy and littered with lies and anomalies.

Humpty dumpty wrote:

Nothing like adding two and two and getting six.

Half truth and twisted words abound in here. You're just taking the little you know and twisting it to suit your own agenda.

That's on you. The Strava data is there day after day but you're all ignoring that little fact aren't with a 'yeah but it can be spoofed'.

Time and time again SW has been asked to show how. Two genuine tracks and two fake ones to compare. But still nothing.

Mimi's team need to provide you with nothing. Not a word, not a photo. Why would they? Their proof will go to the GWR not a bunch of basement dwellers who'll just dismiss it as fakenews anyway

It is not difficult to pass a tracker back and forth in a crew of ultrarunners. Strava data is useless in such a case.

It is true that Mimi's team does not need to provide us with anything. As long as they continue to keep us in the dark, we will continue to question the attempt.

It is clear that the GWR is the primary goal and, I would guess, the reason for taking a route 300 miles shorter than Sandy and Pete. If Mimi's goal is to get the record at any cost, she'll likely succeed. It will always be tainted. So be it.

Buden of proof wrote:

St Marker wrote:

in a court of law people are innocent til proven guilty but in sport (especially this kind of stunt running w/ a disproportionate amount of bluffing / scamming) the burden of proof is on the athlete themselves

Spot on.

Dave, as you are well aware in a court of law having been charged with an offence, Mimi would be innocent until proved guilty.

In a civil court it would be balance of probability.

However using this as an argument to defend her sketchy world record attempt doesn't follow.

Here, the burden of proof is on the runner themselves to give US evidence they are doing it legit. With Mimi's run, this evidence is dodgy and littered with lies and anomalies.

They need to provide GWR with evidence. LR is nothing to them and why would it be? Half a dozen guys posting anonymous accusations from their basement

As others have said, the onus is on the CLAIMANT to provide proofs of a record, not for others to prove they cheated. Sadly there have been several people exposted as cheats doing ultra runs in the last few years (including some Brits sadly). You surely must be aware of this if you anything about the ultra running scene? Ever heard of Mark Vaz?!

Results wrote:

It is clear that the GWR is the primary goal and, I would guess, the reason for taking a route 300 miles shorter than Sandy and Pete. If Mimi's goal is to get the record at any cost, she'll likely succeed. It will always be tainted. So be it.

Oh the glory of GWR's I'd love to stand in the pantheon of greats who've performed truly majestic feats like "fastest 5k dressed as a hot dog" or "most naked people to ever eat apple pie in public"

GWR's aren't about accomplishment but more a great self promotional tool and an excellent way to up those motivational speaking fees lol

Also Guinness is shite - drink O'Hara's Porterhouse Plain or any other decent craft stout when here in Ireland

Results wrote:

It is not difficult to pass a tracker back and forth in a crew of ultrarunners. Strava data is useless in such a case.

It is true that Mimi's team does not need to provide us with anything. As long as they continue to keep us in the dark, we will continue to question the attempt.

It is clear that the GWR is the primary goal and, I would guess, the reason for taking a route 300 miles shorter than Sandy and Pete. If Mimi's goal is to get the record at any cost, she'll likely succeed. It will always be tainted. So be it.

Of course the record is the primary goal, why would anyone go through this otherwise! And tainted to you. LR will always suspect any Brit going for a record these days ignoring the fact that we haven't exactly been beyond reproach I that matter. Rossi anyone?

Personally all I see is huge amounts of conjecture, supposition and downright bias. I'll wait to see what they turn in before I decide but my gut is going with both ladies giving it their all.

St Marker wrote:

Results wrote:

It is clear that the GWR is the primary goal and, I would guess, the reason for taking a route 300 miles shorter than Sandy and Pete. If Mimi's goal is to get the record at any cost, she'll likely succeed. It will always be tainted. So be it.

Oh the glory of GWR's I'd love to stand in the pantheon of greats who've performed truly majestic feats like "fastest 5k dressed as a hot dog" or "most naked people to ever eat apple pie in public"

GWR's aren't about accomplishment but more a great self promotional tool and an excellent way to up those motivational speaking fees lol

Also Guinness is shite - drink O'Hara's Porterhouse Plain or any other decent craft stout when here in Ireland

Precisely. It's not difficult to connect the dots here.

Humpty dumpty wrote:

Nothing like adding two and two and getting six.

Half truth and twisted words abound in here. You're just taking the little you know and twisting it to suit your own agenda.

That's on you. The Strava data is there day after day but you're all ignoring that little fact aren't with a 'yeah but it can be spoofed'.

Time and time again SW has been asked to show how. Two genuine tracks and two fake ones to compare. But still nothing.

Mimi's team need to provide you with nothing. Not a word, not a photo. Why would they? Their proof will go to the GWR not a bunch of basement dwellers who'll just dismiss it as fakenews anyway

With Pete and Sandra's runs there was/is no drama and no outcry by Lets Run.

Everything was how it should be.

These threads only appear when things don't add up.

The Strava data is often very late being posted, leading to speculation it could be being doctored. This isn't hard to do.

SW has a life. He will get back to us with spoofed data when he can.

Trust me, it isn't hard to spoof.

It is very unusual for someone going for a record to do so in private and post very little to social media.

She has a large team and someone there just to film her, yet hardly any photos or video being released.

When you put all the anomalies together you get suspicion.

It's not just ONE sketchy issue, but numerous things that don't add up.

Hence she has come under scrutiny. Sandra is not, because she's doing it properly with transparency. (I started out with huge doubts about Sandra and her dodgy team, but she has totally turned that around and I believe she is legit)

Mimi is not being transparent, so you have to ask what is she hiding?

Right. So if it isn't Guinness who else is going to ratify any record attempt? There isn't an independent body to look at the data. What should we have, the great jury of LR?

Exactly. This thread started out of concerns regarding Sandy. Those doubts were put to rest. To pretend this is some absurd U.S. versus U.K. thing is simply another straw man from Mimi's supporters.

This really isn't a UK v. US thing. Three weeks ago, a consensus here would have been that Mimi had the more legit bid going, based on her previous, more lengthy career contrasted with the more novice career of Sandy and the apparently poor initial organization of Sandy's bid (due to her incompetent PR person who she rightfully canned). Now the tables have turned, due to Sandy's diligence and Mimi's slipshod recording of her efforts. Mimi (and her crew) had the better rep coming in, but has squandered good faith. Sandy has shown the ability to adapt and regroup in good faith, Mimi not so much.

Humpty dumpty wrote:

Right. So if it isn't Guinness who else is going to ratify any record attempt? There isn't an independent body to look at the data. What should we have, the great jury of LR?

As compared to the Marvellous Mimi Fanclub: So what if she missed all the timing mats. The only proof we need is the finishing time.

Yet again someone telling me it isn't difficult to spoof. Then spoof it. Do it. Show me over 1000 miles of spoofed data that will fool professional examination.

Stop talking, stop typing and do it. I'll wait.

And at the risk if repeating myself Mimi has nothing to prove to you. Nothing. Their focus is on getting their runner to the finish line in the quickest time possible not to respond to every dog whistle from 'anon on the internet's

You're repeatedly saying there's no evidence but ignoring the evidence there is.

Humpty dumpty wrote:

Yet again someone telling me it isn't difficult to spoof. Then spoof it. Do it. Show me over 1000 miles of spoofed data that will fool professional examination.

The relay team of ultra runner Mimi has driving along with her can easily do using smooth tracker handoffs.